Africa my Africa (Page 3) Serabi: It has to be a constant indigestion of raw infected meat to contract TB. Since the stupid lions do not cook their meat, it is killing them. Did you look at the clip of the lion pride on the previous page? The little cubs are well fed but later an adolesent male, paperthin, walks fast. The emaciation is typical of TB. Serabi: This clip is just so special! There are some wonderful people in the world... love an animal and you are a god in my eyes. Serabi: Samara rescues baby cheetah 2013-07-26 15:21 Cape Town – Wildlife conservation is challenging at best. Samara Private Game Reserve, in Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape remains committed though - and is fortunate to be the home of the extremely endangered Cheetah. This June Samara's cheetah conservation success story was fuelled by animal instinct. Bellini, one of Samara’s wild cheetah females who has unfortunately not had a single one of her cubs survive before - gave birth and decided to hide her new blessing under a bush closer to the Karoo Lodge than usual. Sarah Tompkins owner of Samara said they don’t normally interfere with the animals but "it was difficult to hear the little thing mewing with hunger". Given Bellini's poor track record with her cubs, the lodge staff decided to intervene. Meet little Nala, which means hope. (Please go to the home page, I can't paste her pics here) “The staff took her into their homes and hearts and fed her every one-and-a-half hours through day and night. She is now almost 6-weeks-old and seems to be thriving,” said Tompkins. Samara works hand in hand with the Endangered Wildlife Trust to ensure that these highly endangered species are given the best chance of survival. Tompkins said only one in five cheetah cubs are female and they felt it is crucial to protect Nala. Before Samara's efforts it has been estimated that the last wild Cheetah in the area was seen 125 years ago as Cheetahs were heavily hunted in the Great Karoo and Eastern Cape areas. The Reserve's most successful rehabilitation story has been with Sibella, a cheetah born in the wild who nearly lost its life at the hands of hunters. After being savagely treated in captivity, she was fortunate enough to be rescued and underwent life-saving surgery and rehabilitation at the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust. In December 2003, Sibella started a new chapter in her life when she, along with two males, was released into Samara. Despite suffering the occasional twinge from her previous injuries, Sibella has proved herself to be a capable hunter and has successfully reared 18 cubs in the time she has been at Samara. -SAPA  Bumpa: Just realised why I dislike lions.... They kill by garotting, just like the Spanish Inquisition used to. Bumpa: Grizzly bears do the same in America I hear. I'd happily shoot either if they tried to eat me Serabi: To all who might have a question about African wildlife, please post your question here. I know our wildlife. Please don't believe some shit like "Zebra kills and eats lion" Some of this is just sensationalism.  OCD_OCD: I love your vids, Serabi and i know how much you love your country and the people in it, despite the hardships and the leadership and the violence. What a wild and beautiful country Africa is. Bumpa: Serabi, I've read a bit recently that hippos are active hunters at night and eat meat as well as river weed. Have you seen them killing? Serabi: Hippos wade out of the water at night because their skin is very sensitive to sunlight. the are herbivores and eat grasses on the riverbanks. In dry seasons other animals coming to water to drink, very often trample all vegetation, thus, the hippos need to forage further and further from the water. The water is their security and the most dangerous position is between a hippo and the water or a hippo and her calf. Lions are mainly night hunters and would sometimes take on a hippo as they are opportunistic hunters. This sometimes happen with disastrous consequences. In times of serious drought hippos will venture out of the water during the day putting themselves in grave danger. These are usually youngsters of very desperate adults. Some lion prides specialise in hippo hunting, others specialise in buffalo or even elephant. They hone their skills to these prey types. Hippos are classified as herbavores but instances have been noted where they would nibble or even eat meat with gusto. They will not actively hunt animals to eat the meat. I suppose you can compare it to dogs digging and eating plant roots. I once saw a Kudu in the Kruger Park chewing on the scapula of an animal. It would drop it, eat leaves and then pick up the bone and munch on. Hippos are really stupid but lethal, more people are killed by hippos in Africa than any other animal. Fights between dominant males usually carries on till one runs away, exceptions happen but are rare. NASTY!!! Bumpa: Thanks Serabi, I've only ever seen hippos in the zoo but I was impressed by their bulk, wouldn't want to piss one off! Serabi: We have some exceptional film makers/conservationists in Africa. I know more about those in the southern part of Africa. Kim Wolhuter: his grandfather was the first game ranger in the Kruger National Park and killed a big male lion with a pocket knife after being attacked. The skin and little knife can be seen on Skukuza's museum. Please don't believe all the rubbish in the beginning of this clip. 1) Hyenas kill more prey than scavenge. All predators are opportunists! 2) They kill by disemboweling their prey, death is very swift. 3) They have the strongest predator jaws and do eat the bones. Because of this amount of calcium, their scat is like chalk and they produce the richest milk to feed their cubs. 4) Hyenas are not related to dogs, canine, or cats, feline. Their closest genetic relative is the Mongoose. Another clip by Kim - this time on wild dogs/painted dogs. Kevin Richardson - A special man with an exceptional gift. and: John Varty - made Leopard films and recently moved onto breeding tigers in Africa. Manana:- Now Tiger Canyons: Accidents happen! Someone should tell him where the thyroid is! Derek and Beverly Joubert - they film mostly in Botswana. Spectacular footage. Iain Douglas-Hamilton Bob and Joyce Poole - There are many other individuals who have made a fantastic contribution - too many to mention. (Edited by Serabi) Serabi: Anthropomorphism is frowned upon but watching elephants mourn is so poignant. And when they 'think' to save their babies - | Off Topic Chat Room Similar Conversations |
